Courses

Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! View our courses and see what our students and lecturers have to say about the courses you are interested in at the links below.

About NUI Galway

Since 1845, NUI Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.

Ms Margaret Ronayne

Contact Details

Biography

Maggie Ronayne received her BA and MA from University College Cork (1992, 1994) and has also studied at the University of Southampton. She taught there and at Oxford University and trained students in excavation methods in Scotland, Ireland and France before joining the Department of Archaeology, NUI, Galway, in 1999. She is a ex-officio executive member of the World Archaeological Congress (1994-2003).

Maggie Ronayne works with grassroots communities and their organisations in a number of countries who are defending their lives, livelihoods, environment and cultural heritage against destructive development projects and has been involved in the investigation of negative impacts of a number of projects which have later been halted including the Ilisu dam project in southeast Turkey. She has worked most often with women and their organisations to investigate and make visible women's central contribution to the care and defence of families, communities and culture. She has carried out long term projects in this field of public archaeology in Turkey and Ireland in particular, based on principles of community involvement and mutual accountability.

This work has set a number of precedents and been used as a model for other research in the field. It has received regular media attention in a number of countries in Europe, as well as in Turkey, the US and China.

Maggie Ronayne also has a research interest in historical archaeology of the recent past and its amalgamation with a community archaeology approach, and is developing innovative work on the study of 19th century rural Ireland. Her current research projects include the Archaeology of the Famine focused on the North Burren around Ballyvaughan in Co. Clare, the Burren Community Archaeology Project and a Public Art and Public Archaeology Project at the former psychiatric hospital of St Brigid's in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway in collaboration with artists from GMIT.

Research Interests

Maggie Ronayne works with grassroots communities and their organisations in a number of countries who are defending their lives, livelihoods, environment and cultural heritage against destructive development projects and has been involved in the investigation of negative impacts of a number of projects which have later been halted including the Ilisu dam project in southeast Turkey.

She has worked most often with women and their organisations to investigate and make visible women's central contribution to the care and defence of families, communities and culture.

She has carried out long term projects in this field of public archaeology in Turkey and Ireland in particular, based on principles of community involvement and mutual accountability.

Her projects over c. 20 years have examined heritage tourism development, large scale infrastructural and hydroelectric development and she is also interested in education and archaeology including the development of online learning resources.

Maggie Ronayne also has a current research interest in the historical archaeology of the recent past and its amalgamation with a community archaeology approach, and is developing innovative work on the study of 19th century rural Ireland. Her current research projects include the Archaeology of the Famine focused on the North Burren around Ballyvaughan in Co. Clare, the Burren Community Archaeology Project and a Public Art and Public Archaeology Project at the former psychiatric hospital of St Brigid's in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway in collaboration with artists from GMIT.

'The State Were In on the Eve of World Archaeological Congess (WAC) 6: Archaeology in Ireland vs Corporate Takeover'
Ronayne,M. (2008) 'The State Were In on the Eve of World Archaeological Congess (WAC) 6: Archaeology in Ireland vs Corporate Takeover'. Public Archaeology, 7 (2):114-129 [Details]

(2006)

'Archaeology Against Cultural Destruction: the Case of the Ilisu Dam in the Kurdish Region of Turkey Public Archaeology'
Ronayne, M. (2006) 'Archaeology Against Cultural Destruction: the Case of the Ilisu Dam in the Kurdish Region of Turkey Public Archaeology'. (5):23-236 [Details]

Books

Year

Publication

(2005)

The Cultural and Environmental Impact of Large Dams in Southeast Turkey London: Kurdish Human Rights Project and National University of Ireland, Galway.
Ronayne, M. (2005) The Cultural and Environmental Impact of Large Dams in Southeast Turkey London: Kurdish Human Rights Project and National University of Ireland, Galway. [ARAN Link] [Details]

(2002)

The Ilisu Dam: Displacement of Communities and Destruction of Culture London: Kurdish Human Rights Project and National University of Ireland, Galway.
Ronayne, M. (2002) The Ilisu Dam: Displacement of Communities and Destruction of Culture London: Kurdish Human Rights Project and National University of Ireland, Galway.
[Details]

'The Culture of Caring and its Destruction in the Middle East: Women’s Work, Water, War and Archaeology and Capitalism From ethics to politics, One World Archaeology Left Coast Press, California'
Ronayne,M. (2007) 'The Culture of Caring and its Destruction in the Middle East: Women’s Work, Water, War and Archaeology and Capitalism From ethics to politics, One World Archaeology Left Coast Press, California' In:
[Details]

(2001)

'The Political Economy of Landscape: Conflict and Value in a Prehistoric Landscape in Ireland, Contested Landscapes: Movement, Exile and Place Oxford and New York: Berg'
Ronayne,M. (2001) 'The Political Economy of Landscape: Conflict and Value in a Prehistoric Landscape in Ireland, Contested Landscapes: Movement, Exile and Place Oxford and New York: Berg' In:
[Details]

Conference Contributions

Year

Publication

(2014)

Understanding Ireland's Great Famine: New Perspectives,
The conference committee consists of Maggie Ronayne, NUI Galway, Marie Mannion, Heritage Office of Galway County Council, Dr Mark McCarthy, GMIT and Dr Christy Cunniffe, Feild Monument Advisor of Glway County Council (2014) Inter-disciplinary and public conference on the Great Famine. Conference partners were School of Geography and Archaeology at NUI Galway, Department of Heriitage and Tourism at GMIT, The Heritage Office of Galway County Council, Galway County heritage Forum, Quinnipiac University in the US. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Understanding Ireland's Great Famine: New Perspectives, Carlton Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe , 27-JUN-14 - 29-JUN-14.
[Details]

Article

Year

Publication

(2012)

The Archaeology of the Famine in the Burren.
Maggie Ronayne (2012) The Archaeology of the Famine in the Burren. Article [Details]

Conference Paper

Year

Publication

(2001)

Sites of Struggle and Sources of Profit: Cultural Heritage in the Age of Transnational Capitalism Paper presented at the. Theoretical Archaeology Group Conference, Dublin.
Ronayne, M. (2001) Sites of Struggle and Sources of Profit: Cultural Heritage in the Age of Transnational Capitalism Paper presented at the. Theoretical Archaeology Group Conference, Dublin. Conference Paper [Details]

Electronic Publication

Year

Publication

(2006)

The Ilisu Dam: A Monument to Barbarism Review of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report Update for the Ilisu Dam in the Kurdish Region of Turkey (in consultation with grassroots communities from the reservoir area and the Global Women’s Strike) ( Report in PDF Format - 965KB).
Ronayne, M. (2006) The Ilisu Dam: A Monument to Barbarism Review of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report Update for the Ilisu Dam in the Kurdish Region of Turkey (in consultation with grassroots communities from the reservoir area and the Global Women’s Strike) ( Report in PDF Format - 965KB). Electronic Publication [Details]

Invited Lectures

Year

Publication

(2009)

Invited to deliver a short course and public lecture series on Development, Cultural Heritage and Professional Ethics at Bogazici (Bosphorus) University, Istanbul (November, 2009).
Ronayne,M. (2009) Invited to deliver a short course and public lecture series on Development, Cultural Heritage and Professional Ethics at Bogazici (Bosphorus) University, Istanbul (November, 2009). Invited Lectures [Details]

Invited papers

Year

Publication

(2008)

Commitment, Objectivity and Accountability to Communities: Priorities for 21st Century Archaeology Invited Lecture at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London, UK .
Ronayne, M. (2008) Commitment, Objectivity and Accountability to Communities: Priorities for 21st Century Archaeology Invited Lecture at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London, UK . Invited papers [Details]

(2008)

Ethics, Development and Archaeology Invited Contribution to Debate Covered by the Media on Tara and the M3 Hosted by the World Archaeological Congress, University College Dublin.
Ronayne,M. (2008) Ethics, Development and Archaeology Invited Contribution to Debate Covered by the Media on Tara and the M3 Hosted by the World Archaeological Congress, University College Dublin. Invited papers [Details]

Dams and Cultural Destruction in Turkey and India Invited Presentation at One Day Seminar on Large Dams in India at University College London.
Ronayne,M. (2005) Dams and Cultural Destruction in Turkey and India Invited Presentation at One Day Seminar on Large Dams in India at University College London. Invited papers [Details]

(2004)

Cultural Destruction in Ireland and Turkey. Invited Lecture to the Achill Archaeological Field School in Mayo, Ireland.
Ronayne,M. (2004) Cultural Destruction in Ireland and Turkey. Invited Lecture to the Achill Archaeological Field School in Mayo, Ireland. Invited papers [Details]

(2002)

The Ilisu Dam and the Destruction of Culture Invited Presentation at the First Conference on Kurdish Cultural Heritage, University of Bergen, Norway .
Ronayne,M. (2002) The Ilisu Dam and the Destruction of Culture Invited Presentation at the First Conference on Kurdish Cultural Heritage, University of Bergen, Norway . Invited papers [Details]

Potential Cultural Impacts of the Yusufeli Dam I. Report by an International Fact-Finding Mission on the Yusufeli Dam in Turkey, published by Friends of the Earth.
Ronayne,M., Hildyard,N., Griffiths,H., Le Verger,M., Godinot,S.A. (2002) Potential Cultural Impacts of the Yusufeli Dam I. Report by an International Fact-Finding Mission on the Yusufeli Dam in Turkey, published by Friends of the Earth. Other Item [Details]

In Defence of Memory: the Struggle for the Past and the Present in Chiapas . World Archaeological Bulletin.
Ronayne, M., Frassinelli, P.P. (2000) In Defence of Memory: the Struggle for the Past and the Present in Chiapas . World Archaeological Bulletin. Other Item [Details]

Cultural Heritage Impacts of the Proposed Gleninagh Pumped Hydroelectric Scheme. Invited contribution to village meeting in Ballyvaughan organised by the village’s development committee on a reservoir proposal for Gleninagh mountain in the Burren, Co Clare.
Ronayne,M. (2010) Cultural Heritage Impacts of the Proposed Gleninagh Pumped Hydroelectric Scheme. Invited contribution to village meeting in Ballyvaughan organised by the village’s development committee on a reservoir proposal for Gleninagh mountain in the Burren, Co Clare. Workshops [Details]

Lios an Ru and Deserted Villages Around Ballyvaughan, Organiser and speaker at open day on site and community report-back on fieldwork .
Ronayne,M. (2010) Lios an Ru and Deserted Villages Around Ballyvaughan, Organiser and speaker at open day on site and community report-back on fieldwork . Workshops [Details]

(2009)

Cultural Destruction By Development and War: How Professionals Can Support Community Work to Defend Culture & Heritage . Invited contribution to international women’s gathering, London.
Ronayne, M. (2009) Cultural Destruction By Development and War: How Professionals Can Support Community Work to Defend Culture & Heritage . Invited contribution to international women’s gathering, London. Workshops [Details]

(2009)

The Destruction of Cultural Heritage in the War on Iraq, Invited contribution to a panel on this topic organised by an Iraqi women’s group for the Iraqi community and others in London.
Ronayne,M. (2009) The Destruction of Cultural Heritage in the War on Iraq, Invited contribution to a panel on this topic organised by an Iraqi women’s group for the Iraqi community and others in London. Workshops [Details]

(2009)

Development, Cultural Heritage and Professional Ethics, Invited lecture open to the public organised by academic colleagues at the Institute of Environmental Sciences, student groups and BGST Press at Bogazici (Bosphorus) University, Istanbul.
Ronayne,M. (2009) Development, Cultural Heritage and Professional Ethics, Invited lecture open to the public organised by academic colleagues at the Institute of Environmental Sciences, student groups and BGST Press at Bogazici (Bosphorus) University, Istanbul. Istanbul: Workshops [Details]

Defending Culture and Heritage from Destruction . Invited contribution to international women's meeting organised by indigenous women from Oaxaca with international women's organisations in Oaxaca,Mexico.
Ronayne,M. (2008) Defending Culture and Heritage from Destruction . Invited contribution to international women's meeting organised by indigenous women from Oaxaca with international women's organisations in Oaxaca,Mexico. Oaxaca, Mexico: Workshops [Details]

War, Cultural Destruction and Women’s Work to Defend Culture and Heritage, Invited Presentation at the National Forum on Women and Social Peace organised by the municipality of Kiziltepe-Mardin in southeast Turkey .
Ronayne,M. (2005) War, Cultural Destruction and Women’s Work to Defend Culture and Heritage, Invited Presentation at the National Forum on Women and Social Peace organised by the municipality of Kiziltepe-Mardin in southeast Turkey . Turkey: Workshops [Details]

(2005)

The Cultural Impacts of Large Dams: A Global Perspective, Invited presentation to international policy conference on water and large dams organised by local and European NGOs and sponsored by the German government, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
Ronayne,M (2005) The Cultural Impacts of Large Dams: A Global Perspective, Invited presentation to international policy conference on water and large dams organised by local and European NGOs and sponsored by the German government, Diyarbakir, Turkey. Turkey: Workshops [Details]

(2005)

Women’s Work to Oppose Cultural Destruction by Large Dams, Invited presentation at Crossroads women’s centre, London .
Ronayne,M. (2005) Women’s Work to Oppose Cultural Destruction by Large Dams, Invited presentation at Crossroads women’s centre, London . Workshops [Details]

(2004)

Large Dams and Development Projects: Displacement of Communities and Destruction of Cultural Heritage. Invited presentation at national gathering organnised by legal Action for Women.
Ronayne,M. (2004) Large Dams and Development Projects: Displacement of Communities and Destruction of Cultural Heritage. Invited presentation at national gathering organnised by legal Action for Women. London: Workshops [Details]

(2004)

Tara, the M3 and the Impact of Road Development in Ireland, Invited presentation to public gathering organised by the Ecological Society, NUI Galway and assistance with organisation of the event (Easter, 2004).
Ronayne, M. (2004) Tara, the M3 and the Impact of Road Development in Ireland, Invited presentation to public gathering organised by the Ecological Society, NUI Galway and assistance with organisation of the event (Easter, 2004). Workshops [Details]

(2004)

The Iraq War and the Destruction of Culture, Invited Presentation to a public meeting on the Iraq war in Ennis, Co Clare The other speakers were Denis Halliday (former Deputy UN Secretary General) and Ramsay Clark (former US Attorney General) .
Ronayne,M. (2004) The Iraq War and the Destruction of Culture, Invited Presentation to a public meeting on the Iraq war in Ennis, Co Clare The other speakers were Denis Halliday (former Deputy UN Secretary General) and Ramsay Clark (former US Attorney General) . Workshops [Details]

(2004)

The Iraq War and the Destruction of Cultural Heritage Invited Lecture to the Archaeology Society, University College Cork.
Ronayne,M. (2004) The Iraq War and the Destruction of Cultural Heritage Invited Lecture to the Archaeology Society, University College Cork. Workshops [Details]

(2004)

Tara, the M3 and the Impact of Road Development in Ireland, Invited Presentation to public gathering organised by the Ecological Society, NUI Galway (Easter, 2004).
Ronayne, M. (2004) Tara, the M3 and the Impact of Road Development in Ireland, Invited Presentation to public gathering organised by the Ecological Society, NUI Galway (Easter, 2004). Workshops [Details]

(2003)

The Ilisu Dam: Displacement of Communities and Destruction of Culture Invited Lecture to the Archaeology Society, University College Cork.
Ronayne, M. (2003) The Ilisu Dam: Displacement of Communities and Destruction of Culture Invited Lecture to the Archaeology Society, University College Cork. Workshops [Details]

(2002)

The Destruction of Culture in War and by Development Projects in Kurdistan, Invited Presentation to a Kurdish women’s meeting organised by the Kurdish Community Centre in London (2002).
Ronayne,M. (2002) The Destruction of Culture in War and by Development Projects in Kurdistan, Invited Presentation to a Kurdish women’s meeting organised by the Kurdish Community Centre in London (2002). London: Workshops [Details]

(2002)

Development and the Destruction of Cultural Heritage. Invited Presentation to the Achill Archaeological Field School in Mayo, Ireland.
Ronayne,M. (2002) Development and the Destruction of Cultural Heritage. Invited Presentation to the Achill Archaeological Field School in Mayo, Ireland. Workshops [Details]

Archaeological Labour and Third World Development Paper presented at the Theoretical Archaeology Group Conference.
Ronayne, M. (2001) Archaeological Labour and Third World Development Paper presented at the Theoretical Archaeology Group Conference. Dublin: Workshops [Details]

The Ilisu Dam in Southeast Turkey Invited Lecture to the Archaeology Society, University College Cork .
Ronayne, M. (2001) The Ilisu Dam in Southeast Turkey Invited Lecture to the Archaeology Society, University College Cork . Workshops [Details]

The Ilisu Dam and the Destruction of Culture, Invited Presentation to the Newroz (Kurdish New Year) meeting organisedby the Kurdish community in Ireland.
Ronayne, M. (2001) The Ilisu Dam and the Destruction of Culture, Invited Presentation to the Newroz (Kurdish New Year) meeting organisedby the Kurdish community in Ireland. Workshops [Details]

Ilisu and the GAP Development Project in Turkey, Invited presentation to the Quartu Per Il Kurdistan festival organised by CGIL and the municipality of Cagliari in Sardinia, Italy.
Ronayne, M. (2001) Ilisu and the GAP Development Project in Turkey, Invited presentation to the Quartu Per Il Kurdistan festival organised by CGIL and the municipality of Cagliari in Sardinia, Italy. Italy: Workshops [Details]

Committees

Committee

Function

From / To

Deputy Head of Discipline of Archaeology

/

Graduate Research Committee in Archaeology

Member

/

Teaching and learning committee School of Geography and Archaeology

Member

/

Teaching Committee, Archaeology

Chair

/

Students with Disabilities, Archaeology

Liaison person for the discipline

/

3/4BA Co-ordinator and Exams Officer, Archaeology

Year Co-ordinator and Exams Officer

/

Staff/Student Evaluation Panel

Member

/

Diploma Management, Archaeology

Member

/

Open Days Management, Archaeology

Member

/

Consultancy

Client

Description

Knockranny and Oldtown Community Group, Moycullen

Galway County Council and Slieve Aughty Community Archaeology Project

Museum of Country Life, Castlebar

Advice to the National Museum of Ireland’s Museum of Country Life at Castlebar regarding setting up an education project for primary and secondary school children on 19th century vernacular architecture

communities in the west of Ireland

In 2012/13 maggie Ronayne has advised a number of communities, community groups and individuals in Counties Galway and Clare on a pro bono basis regarding: 1. potential impact of development projects and appeals to An Bord Pleanala2. advice regarding particular archaeological sites and their settings3. other heritage-related queries4. community archaeology training

HSE West Galway Mental Health Services

pro bono consultation regarding 19th century building, formerly St Brigid's psychiatric hospital in Ballinasloe and its contents.Also involved consultations with National Museum of Ireland, Galway City Museum, Galway County Council.